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In case any sh.tv people are also reading this:

Steve's old DCC Greatest Hits disc is actually a collector's necessity, as it's (AFAIK) the only place on disc to find the "real" Imagine the Swan. Big Beat uses an almost-correct version, but it's missing the organ in the intro; and, of course, the song's not on the hybrid.

Do explain - what's "real" about it?

Well, the Zombies catalogue existed in several interesting "iterations." For example, until the Decca remix project, there tended to be two distinct versions of the pre-O&O stuff: the stereo mixes (which basically everyone used), and the mono versions (which Big Beat tended to use exclusively).

The thing is, until Big Beat got into the act, there was a similar sort of split nature to the post O&O "RIP" tracks. What I think of as the "standard" mixes were used way back when on Time of the Zombies, after which point they were out of action until Zombie Heaven came along.

One of these variations was that almost every version of Imagine the Swan used on comps from that point on used an incorrect version with missing backing vocals. Meet the Zombies, the various Repertoire discs...all used this version.

Now, Steve's GH introduced two anomalies that I know of. One, "Don't Cry For Me" was suddenly present in its single mix (the two other versions--the Big Beat one and the "Meet the Zombies" esque ones were more common), and Imagine the Swan suddenly gained its backing vocals.

Now, the Rhino O&O and the Big Beat sets also use the Imagine the Swan with backing vocals. However, Steve's has another mix difference; it has the organ mixed up in the intro, whereas the other versions don't. I'm actually unsure of which version is the "real" version, but in any case Steve's version seems to be unique.

And I wish he had carried it over (along with the pre-Big Beat mix of "Smokey Day," which is the only one that's really tough to find).

The Zombies are Satan's Messengers

I just picked up the new Zombies "Live at BBC" collection, and it's verrrrrrrrry good. All MONO, too ! Great interviews segments, with Kenny Everett, of course !

What's interesting, to me, about these performances, is their early 60's, pure pop, sensibilities, didn't seem to have THAT much a connection, to what, evolved into, the...ahem...psychedelia, of their final, landmark, release, "Odessey and Oracle".

I mean, they sing, "The Look of Love"and "Goin' Out of my Head", as well as they sing "This Old Heart of Mine", "Soulville", "Rip It Up", "It's Alright", and "Road Runner"!

How did they do that ?

Their soft sound is so intoxicating and appealing, and catchy, it doesn't really matter what they are singing, does it ?

Isn't that the Repertoire disc?

Yet another iteration of the new Repertoire's recycling program...I mean, isn't this disc basically disc 4 of Zombie Heaven? The new digipak O&O and Begin Here also rip the Big Beat sound, apparently...and dig their "Snapper Reissues...but with stuff added on from the Singles collection" approach to their Pretty Things reissues.

Yeah, the BBC stuff doesn't have much direct connection to O&O, but then again, very little from the Decca years sounds like that album...Indication and She Does Everything, maybe, but certainly not "I Don't Want To Know" and "Going Out Of My Head"...

BTW, I recently ripped (from vinyl) the only Zombies mix I know of that isn't on CD: the original "Best and the Rest of the Zombies" version of Girl, Help Me.

Anybody interested?

-D